First sods turned in building big solar farm at Tathra on NSW far south coast

Tue 15 Apr 2014, 7:20 AM AEST

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Solar panels will be used to power Tathra sewage works (File Photo)

Infinity Solar

It is hoped a new community solar farm in the Bega Valley on the New South Wales far south coast will be up and running by the end of the year.

The Bega Valley Shire Council and Clean Energy for Eternity have turned the first sods on a project to create a solar farm to power the Tathra sewage works.

The facility will cost about $90,000 and is being jointly funded by the community, shire council and State Environment Department.

The president of Clean Energy for Eternity, Matthew Nott, says the Tathra community has supported the project.

“Tathra probably has one of the highest uptakes of household solar panels in the country,” he said.

“ People have been very understanding of the need to make a bit of a statement, and that's what we're trying to do with the Imagine solar farm, and also very appreciative of the fact that money from the electricity generated will go on to fund more solar panels for community buildings in Tathra.”